Govt dismisses reports of 'poor floor management'

NEW DELHI: Government today dismissed reports that it had bungled in the Lok Sabha yesterday at the time of introduction of a bill to regulate pension funds when BJP came to its rescue.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal said several Congress MPs were in the Parliament House complex and were taking part in voting for some Parliamentary committees.

He was commenting on BJP saving the government from embarrassment as the Left parties pressed for a division on a bill to regulate pension funds at the introduction stage itself.

He said it was a fact that BJP was favouring the Bill and was critical for the delay in bringing forward the measure.

"We do not stand on prestige. We would like to reach out to everybody," he said rejecting suggestions that it was a 'poor floor management' that forced the government to seek BJP's help.

Bansal was critical of the opposition especially of the BJP for the frequent disruptions and said it was also the duty of all parties to ensure that legislative business was carried out in full seriousness.

"If ten members rush to the well of the House and want the government to do whatever they are demanding...," he said lamenting the attitude of the opposition parties.

On Women's Reservation Bill, he said that government's commitment to make that law into reality still stands and would seek the consensus of political parties.

He said it would be "just next to impossible" to get the Women's Bill passed in the Lok Sabha without arriving at a consensus. "We were accused of what little strong action we have taken in the Rajya Sabha. It will be just next to impossible" to go without consensus in Lok Sabha.